PANJIM: Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro may miss the floor test as till late Tuesday night he was in Manipur and his arrival by Wednesday morning is in doubt.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant will take the floor test in Assembly to prove that his government enjoys the majority.
According to sources, Congress may not have a full house on Wednesday with Faleiro not being in a position to reach the Assembly. He is in Manipur as the All India Congress Committee in charge of the North East for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar was huddled with his party MLAs to plan a strategy to defeat the government in its floor test.
According to sources, however, the absence of Faleiro will prove to be a major embarrassment for the party as it has been staking claim to form the government and does not have its own herd together when needed.
Responding to the development, Kavlekar said, “I must inform you that we ourselves have not received a formal communication from the Governor regarding tomorrow’s floor test. However, with regards to Luizinho Faleiro, we have informed him and he will reach Goa by 10 in the morning on Wednesday.”
Meanwhile, Congress condemned Goa Forward Party (GFP), Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Independent MLAs for again forming an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing the media Goa Pradesh Congress Committee’s (GPCC) Communication Department Convenor, Trajano D’Mello accused the Governor of allowing arm-twisting and horse trading throughout the day on Monday.
He said, “The parties and Independent MLAs had earlier said that their support is only for Parrikar and not for BJP. Now, one says they are in NDA and one says they are supporting the BJP. This is all a loot and trying to fool the people of Goa.”
He added, “They are all out to destroy Goa in all directions, environment, food, etc. They made a common minimum programme which today stands clear that it was only a common money-making program.”
Stating that the government would collapse post the Lok Sabha polls and the by-polls, D’Mello said, “The BJP has formed this government only to take advantage during the Lok Sabha and by-polls. They will dissolve the government after the polls and have formed this government only to take advantage during the polls.”
He said that Congress is exploring legal options to challenge the government formation.
